Airlines cancel yet more flights amid COVID-19 panic and travel bans |24 March 2020

As more countries shut down their borders and impose preventive measures restricting the movement of people within their frontiers in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, numerous airlines have announced alterations and cancellations in their services and routes amid the panic and uncertainty.

As with the rest of the world, Seychelles has not been spared and the cracks are increasingly becoming evident as hotel and tourist establishments, from large multinationals to small guesthouses, take the decision to shut their doors due to low-occupancy amid significant reductions in demand.

Among the travel measures imposed by the authorities are a complete outbound travel ban for all Seychellois effective as of yesterday for a 30-day period. Furthermore, inbound travellers from numerous high-risk countries including Europe, the United Kingdom and South Asian states most affected by the deadly virus are also barred from entering the country, in a bid to keep further cases at bay.

Increasingly, more airlines are taking measures in conformity with travel restrictions enforced by individual states, leaving many airlines with operational challenges, the effects of which are already being felt around the world as airlines face tough decisions to ground planes and cut jobs if the situation persists. Indeed, analysts have already predicted that even the largest of airlines such as US airlines, may face bankruptcy if governments fail to step in.

As per a communiqué from the Seychelles Civil Aviation Authority (SCAA) issued yesterday morning, eleven airlines serving and connecting Seychelles to the rest of the world, have announced temporary cancellation of flights with others cancelling routes indefinitely.

Qatar Airways have cancelled flights period 23 March to 31 May 2020.

Air Mauritius have cancelled flights period 20 March to 28 April 2020.

Condor has cancelled flights: Wednesdays, 25 March to 29 April 2020 and Saturdays, 28 March to 18 April 2020.

Turkish Airlines have cancelled flights period 23 March to 13 April 2020.

Kenya Airways have cancelled early morning flights (KQ 258/9) period 20 March to 02 May 2020.

Sri Lankan Airlines have cancelled flights on 18 & 23 March and 01, 06, 12, 20 & 27 April 2020.

Ethiopian Airlines as of 18 March have cancelled all Monday, Wednesday & Fridays flights.

Air Austral have cancelled flights period 27 March to 12 April 2020.

Edelweiss Air will not operate flight on 30 March (April still to be determined while 03 May to 20 September 2020 is confirmed as cancelled).

Emirates Airline have cancelled following flights: EK 705/6 & EK 707/8 on 22, 24, 26 & 29 March and EK 705/6 on 23, 25, 27 & 28 March.

Air France will not operate anymore flights after 22 March 2020.

According to airport manager of terminal & landside operations, Eric Frost, the recent spate of cancellations are not necessarily based on the Seychelles government’s decision to impose travel bans, but more to do with the global crisis, which is spilling over and impacting on global industries as well.

Emirates, which currently runs two flights daily from Seychelles, is also among the airlines who have declared their flights cancelled. Not only is this expected to impact negatively on the airlines’ financial standing, but whether it will further exacerbate the country’s economic situation, considering revenues generated even for ground handling services.

Laura Pillay